Shen Yuanwei couldn’t stop laughing.
This Young General was quite amusing.
She liked him.
She told Xiao Lingzhao, “Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. I’m not a bad person. I was an abandoned infant left at the mass grave, and my adoptive mother picked me up and raised me in the mountains. This is my identity document—”
She took out a thin, yellowed paper from her bosom and handed it to Xiao Lingzhao.
The Mysterious Light Orb that brought her to this world not only granted her a special constitution but also effortlessly fabricated an identity for her.
When she first arrived in this world and landed in the alley next to the General’s Residence, this document was already in her possession.
She, Shen Yuanwei, an abandoned infant rescued eighteen years ago by an elderly recluse living deep in the mountains—an ordinary, inconspicuous identity that had been seamlessly rationalized in this world, with no one able to detect anything amiss.
Xiao Lingzhao lowered his head to examine the identity document.
As someone from the imperial court, he could confirm that this document was genuine.
The girl’s registered hometown was the capital, residing in Dongshan Village two hundred li north of the city, stamped with the county magistrate’s seal.
Shen Yuanwei said, “Young General, as you can see, although I’m decent-looking, I’m just an illiterate village girl from a humble background, mismatched with your status. Are you still willing to take me as your principal wife and vow never to take another woman in your lifetime?”
Xiao Lingzhao returned the identity document to Shen Yuanwei.
His dark eyes shone with sincerity, “I am willing. The fact that Miss Shen can save my life already surpasses the finest family background in the world. I won’t look down on you, I dare not look down on you. I wish to join in matrimony with you and protect you for life.”
After a pause, he added softly, “Moreover, Miss Shen, you’re being too modest. You’re not just ‘decent-looking’—you’re breathtakingly beautiful, peerless in grace and charm.”
Shen Yuanwei was somewhat surprised.
This Young General, who appeared aloof and taciturn in front of others, was trying so hard to please her…
She couldn’t help but happily return the compliment, “Young General, you’re the same—dignified and impressive, graceful like jade, with divine clarity in your bones, truly unmatched in this world.”
Xiao Lingzhao felt somewhat shy.
It wasn’t the first time he had been praised for his looks,
but being complimented by Miss Shen brought a unique blend of blushing shyness and pride that made his heart race.
He gazed eagerly at Shen Yuanwei, “Since I’m good-looking, then… I beg you to take me.”
Having died unluckily once before, Shen Yuanwei now believed that life was short and unpredictable—one must seize pleasure while alive.
Since the God of War had declared his feelings, why shouldn’t she go with the flow and enjoy the moment?
Flash marriages had their own pleasures too.
Let her experience what it meant to marry first and love later.
The smile on Shen Yuanwei’s lips grew increasingly radiant.
Under Xiao Lingzhao’s gaze, she nodded, “Alright, then let us join in matrimony. From now on, I ask the Young General to be gentle with me…”
The moment she agreed, a brilliant light fell into Xiao Lingzhao’s eyes.
She had agreed to marry him.
They were about to become husband and wife.
From now on, he could freely embrace this person, freely claim her…
Xiao Lingzhao’s eyes swept over Shen Yuanwei’s rosy lips and snow-white neck, his throat moving slightly.
If Miss Shen’s mere touch could bring him such joy, what would it feel like if he suddenly kissed her?
Sensing his gaze, Shen Yuanwei chuckled lightly, “Why are you looking at me like that, Young General? You’re not… thinking of kissing me, are you?”
Xiao Lingzhao’s heart trembled.He instinctively wanted to deny it.
But gazing at those beautiful lips and that lovely neck, his throat moved again, and he chose to follow his heart. “Yes, I want to kiss you.”
Staring at Shen Yuanwei’s lips, he asked hoarsely, “May I kiss you, Miss Shen?”
Shen Yuanwei burst into laughter.
What an honest man.
He actually asked for permission instead of just kissing her—if he had, she wouldn’t have been able to refuse!
How could she possibly answer such a question? She could only refuse. What proper young lady would eagerly invite a man to kiss her before marriage?
Shen Yuanwei shook her head. “No, you may not.”
Xiao Lingzhao felt disappointed but found it reasonable. He wasn’t her husband yet—what right did he have to claim a husband’s privileges?
He nodded. “Alright. I’ll kiss you after we’re married.”
Shen Yuanwei laughed again.
Xiao Lingzhao glanced at her, suppressing the restless beast in his heart, and averted his gaze to discuss serious matters, distracting himself from his fiancée’s allure.
“Your body possesses a miraculous calming ability. It’s best not to let a third person know about this. The world is full of people tortured by illness and despair—I fear if they learn of your constitution, they would stop at nothing to possess you, even if it means harming you…”
“Fortunately, everyone in the General’s Residence has misunderstood. They believe you can calm me because we’ve known each other for years and I’m deeply in love with you. They think it’s my love for you that cleared my mind. Since that’s the case, why don’t we act out this play? We’ll pretend I’ve loved you for years, that I’ve longed for you without success, and that you’re only marrying me now to save me. What do you think?”
Shen Yuanwei had no objections.
Although her body likely only had this calming effect on Xiao Lingzhao, would others believe that? They would assume that if she could relieve Xiao Lingzhao’s suffering, she could surely help them too…
Desperate patients driven mad by their conditions could become terrifying if they fixated on her.
Seeing Shen Yuanwei agree, Xiao Lingzhao added, “Since I’m supposed to have loved you for years, our forms of address should be more intimate.”
He asked Shen Yuanwei, “Miss Shen, what should I call you?”
Shen Yuanwei teased him, “Yuan Wei? Yuan’er? Wei’er? Xiao Wei? Wei Wei?”
Then she suddenly laughed. “Why don’t you just call me ‘Madam,’ Young General? And I’ll call you… ‘Husband’?”
Xiao Lingzhao’s ears turned bright red.
Miss Shen truly enjoyed teasing him.
How could he call her ‘Madam’?
They weren’t married yet—how could he be so improper?
He turned his head away, took a deep breath, and softly called, “…Yuan Wei.”
Shen Yuanwei’s bright eyes reflected his handsome face.
Hearing her name spoken in such a deep, captivating voice by such a handsome man made her heartbeat go erratic.
She reached out and pushed Xiao Lingzhao. “Get up. We should go see the Old General and Old Madam—they’re waiting for us.”
Xiao Lingzhao didn’t miss the faint blush on Shen Yuanwei’s cheeks.
He was surprised.
He had assumed that since Yuan Wei could tease him so effortlessly, she must be experienced in matters of love. How could a simple “Yuan Wei” make her blush like this?
Xiao Lingzhao felt a secret thrill.
The corners of his lips lifted as he reached out to hold Shen Yuanwei’s arm and help her up.
But even after Shen Yuanwei had steadied herself, Xiao Lingzhao didn’t let go. Instead, he slid his fingers between hers, instinctively intertwining their hands in a perfect clasp.Shen Yuanwei shook their joined hands. “Still holding hands? Shouldn’t the power inside you be pacified by now?”
Xiao Lingzhao continued holding her hand as they walked out, acting as if nothing was unusual.
Was he supposed to let go just because the energy had been stabilized?
Yuan Wei probably didn’t realize how comforting it felt to have their skin touching.
He didn’t dare imagine—if merely holding hands felt this wonderful, how utterly intoxicating would it be on their wedding night when they experienced everything together…